Manage your qualms about playing a brass instrument while marching! It takes knowing your instrument, strength and plenty of practice to perfect this technique. It's well worth it, as you'll enjoy the experience of marching while playing music.

Steps

1

Be aware that brass instruments come in many sizes, depending on the instrument. The size affects the ease of mobility. Trumpets and tubas take different amounts of strength and coordination while locomoting. Some instruments are very difficult to play while marching, however-- French horns are particularly tricky, as they are meant to rest on a leg (thigh) for support while seated in a chair. Band directors often will allow French horn players to use a different instrument during marching band exercises, such as drums or some other percussion instrument. But other instruments can be played with ease if a player is willing to practice moving while playing.

2

Begin your marching practice in a space with a relatively flat surface, such as a gym or a good parking lot. Prepare to have your lips bumped by the instrument's mouthpiece when you begin to practice marching while playing. It's all a matter of learning to use your arms to control and support the position of your instrument. Arm strength is something you may want to work on with various exercises. But if you practice with your instrument a lot, you'll get a workout anyway.

3

Start playing the music. With your sheet music loaded in the holder of your instrument (if your band director is allowing you to use it), begin playing and walking slowly to get the feel for what you'll need to do.

4

Add the march. When you feel a bit more coordinated, begin to use a marching step while playing your instrument. Again, this is best done on a relatively flat surface in the beginning. If you're only going to march on a football field, you'll always have a flat surface. But if your marching band participates in street parades, you may find that the streets are uneven and have a pothole here and there. This takes more practice to accommodate the unevenness, but it can be done!

5

Think about how your instrument sounds while you're marching and playing. Is the sound your instrument produces weak or out-of-tune? This is common in the beginning. You have to get your lips used to a mouthpiece that wants to move with your body. This is why arm strength is important to acquire, so you can keep your brass instrument and mouthpiece in the same place most of the time.

6

Think about showmanship! Your band director will want the entire group to look polished. Keep your instrument clean and polished. Keep your uniform clean and pressed. Try to show some energy in your performance––don't look as though you're sleepwalking through it. Give the audience a reason to applaud, and you'll go home feeling like you made their day!

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Warnings

Keep an eye on the band director (and major/majorette) for directions. This will take some additional practice to do while playing/marching, but you'll learn to appreciate their leadership in the midst of all the movement during a performance.

Also, watch out for players marching near you. Practice your routine well so you don't bump into each other. This sounds basic, but an on-field collision can damage your instrument. And bumping your mouthpiece against your lips/teeth hurts!